Criteria for selection of patients for bariatric surgery

International criteria for bariatric surgery and bariatric surgeons have be en well-defined in terms of the current state of the art and are presented together with weight tables and a list of co-morbidities of morbid obesity. The bariatric surgeon should make the primary judgement concerning bariatr ic surgery using these criteria as guidelines only, not strict rules; other s who use these criteria should govern themselves in a like, fair-minded, f ashion. Medical insurers' and their agents' criteria, if excessively restri ctive relative to the guidelines, may reflect an ingrained prejudice agains t the morbidly obese, manifesting itself in an unfair, unethical and immora l bias. It is the essence of humane and equitable behaviour on the part of all concerned that the morbidly obese receive non-discriminatory, appropria te treatment, care and medical insurer coverage for their disease and its c omorbidities. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.